The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday, December 10, 2001
WORLD
Amid carnage, happiness is a warm gun
By Chris McCall in the Napu Valley, Central Sulawesi
Rusty and crude, his beloved hand-made gun would be just junk metal if it were not so
deadly.
Hidden away amid a refugee's few possessions, this tangle of metal bits and pieces is
a secret treasure, kept permanently loaded and ready to kill with. He sleeps beside it.
The 24-year-old Christian owner does not want his name published, or his picture
taken with his gun, even with his face covered. The Muslim jihad forces know him and
may come and get him, he explains. That is, if the police do not arrest him first.
Tension is growing in the lush Napu valley of Poso district, in Indonesia's Central
Sulawesi province. The mixed community formed an inter-religious forum to save it
from the violence that has devastated the rest of Poso.
In Poso, an area is either red (Christian) or white (Muslim). With a Christian majority,
Napu is now regarded as part of the red area. And after three years of conflict, feelings
are hardening on both sides.
Since last month, thousands of refugees have come streaming into the valley, nearly
all traumatised Christians. Many walked for days and nights through jungle while their
homes were burnt to cinders by Muslim jihad forces.
According to a local refugee forum, there were 8185 refugees as of November 30.
More than one-third are aged five or under, including 1348 babies.
And they are still coming. Local Muslims, some of whom are also refugees, feel
distinctly nervous. Local men guard a blockade on the road into the valley and check
vehicles coming in and out.
This man made his gun last month, just before the Muslim white forces began a
series of attacks on Christian villages near the coast. They came with black masks
and black clothes and outgunned and outnumbered the Christian reds, refugees say.
He was with the reds as they beat a retreat inland over several days, as five villages
fell one by one.
Christian refugees say there was a systematic plan of attack. The white front line
fired, while behind them others looted, others burnt the houses and others went
around checking nothing had been missed. Many, they say, are not from Poso but
are outsiders, some from Java and some from Ambon. A handful of Indonesian
soldiers tried to resist them, but they ran out of bullets within hours and were quickly
withdrawn to save their skins.
Accounts of the number of dead on the Christian side are confused. At least five were
killed, but likely more.
This man claims to have killed three jihad fighters with his gun. But what he would like
is real weapons, such as the ones he claims the Muslims had, and asks whether he
can be sent some.
"I was not scared because there was Jesus Christ," he boasts. "There is no help from
anyone. America won't help us."
Poso's Muslim groups deny they have real weapons, although some admit having
sophisticated home-made ones. If they attack the red forces, they say, it is only in
response to violence by Christians.
Since the Poso conflict erupted three years ago, hundreds of Muslims have died at
the hands of red forces.
In Alitupu village, recent Christian arrivals recounted stories of horror. They still believe
in the goodness of God, but have had their faith sorely tested by the latest events.
Even so, there is no feeling of wanting revenge. "Maybe this is from he above who
arranges things," one man said quietly.
SMH. Copyright © 2001. All rights reserved.
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